Pray and Sing!

Readings for Tuesday May 19, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 16:22-34

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 138

Gospel:  John 16:5-11

"The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods.  After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.  When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.

About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened" (Acts 16:22-25)

I recently heard in a homily that "happiness is 10% circumstance, and 90% character."  I find this saying to be very interesting because most of the time we think that it is the circumstances that decide whether we are happy or not; but in reality it is our reaction and attitude to our circumstances that determine our happiness.  In today's first reading from the book of Acts, we read about Paul and Silas, who after being beaten are thrown in jail.  So what is their reaction to this unfortunate set of circumstances?  To pray and sing hymns!  Now I don't know about you, but my initial reaction is to think that they are crazy, I mean they are in jail and they have just been beaten; talk about having a bad day!  But when we stop and think about it, we realize that their reaction to suffering is the same as it would be to as a joyous occasion:  stopping to give praise and worship to the Lord.  Paul and Silas do not let their happiness be dictated solely by their circumstance, it is dictated by their love of God and the peace found in Him.  They are not bound by this world, only lifted up by the power and promises of God.  

We have many things in this world that can bring us down:  a terrible economy, a high unemployment rate, an extremely pro-choice president, diseases and epidemics, threats to marriage and family, even persecution; but let us look at the example of Paul and Silas.  Let us not let our happiness be dictated by this world or our own self-pity; but instead by the love, mercy, and faithfulness of God, who calls us to something much higher.  So the next time you find yourself in a bad situation, just pray and sing!  And the next time you find yourself in a joyous situation, pray and sing!  In all things let us give thanks to God!

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, we praise you in all things, help us to have the courage and strength to find joy in you when things seem bad.  Lord, your power and glory are greater than anything on this earth, helps us to put our faith solely in you and not the things of this world.  Lord, we praise you for your love, we praise you for your mercy, we praise you for calling us to you.  We pray for all those who are in need of conversion, we pray for all of our political leaders and that they may all seek to uphold dignity and life at all stages.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.